Bottle carrier



Sept. 14, 1954 E. DECHAR 2,689,072

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. dea ard a 'har' BY I W KL Arr'ys,

Sept. 14, 1954 E. DECHAR 2,689,072

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 II [I I I I I III] III III/I/I/I I III IN V EN Z'OR.

Edbuard'Decflar .BY

P 4, 1954 E. DECHAR 2,689,072

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Edouard Pea/I nr' Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,689,072 BOTTLE CARRIER Edouard Dechar, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Walter Marshak 1110., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 21, 1952, Serial No. 267,406

and conveniently carried by the purchaser, thereby providing a bottle carrier for a plurality of bottles, which carrier is readily assembled as required for use and disassembled after it has served its purpose in providing a convenient transporting device for the bottles. Such devices serve the double purpose of displaying the bottled beverages for sale in the store, and providing a simple, light and inexpensive carrier to enable the purchaser to carry home his purchase.

In accordance with present shopping practices, the purchaser of soft drinks or bottled beer frequently buys a number of bottles, six or more, and takes them home with him, either in a paper bag, or in one of the presently available transportable carriers designed to hold a number, usually six, of such bottles. While there are now available portable carriers of this general type which are formed of wire, and others which are made of cardboard, paperboard, or some similar inexpensive semi-rigid material, at the present time there is not available any bottle carrier of the type which combines both wire elements and semi-rigid members, thereby securing the structural advantages of both materials, the wire elements being secured to the semi-rigid members and held in place with relation thereto by the resilient or spring-like action of the wire itself.

Display bottle carriers formed of wire or similar material, i. e. rod-like metallic members, possess certain advantages, principally arising from the ease with which they may be manufactured in quantity and the possibility of so constructing them that they are easily collapsed so as to occupy but small space when not in use. But wire as a material for bottle carriers, while suiiiciently stiff to maintain its shape, yet is easily bent, and while sufficiently resilient to resist de formation and provide some support for the bottles transported, is open to the serious objection that the usual grid-like carrier bottom that it provides is not' well adapted to safely support a plurality of bottles. Moreover, in most types of wire bottle carriers, no central spacing partition for the bottles is provided, and even if a central partition of wire were part of the carrier. it would not provide a satisfactory spacing ele- 2 ment. A central partition, usually dividing the six bottles transported in the portable carrier three and three, is helpful both in maintaining the balance of the carrier and in preventing the bottles carried from striking together, which might result in breakage thereof.

Carriers suitable both for displaying the bottled beverage and for providing a convenient means for carrying it home, formed of stiff cardrendered relatively expensive.

' weight of the filled bottles.

board, paperboard, or even some more expensive rigid material such as plywood, or wood, are now available, but such carriers are usually not easily collapsible to small space when not in use, although some of them may be completely disassembled by taking the component elements thereof apart. This is of course not practical for a bottle carrier intended for customer use.

While providing a semi-rigid support for the bottles with flat even supporting surfaces, carriers made entirely of cardboard or other semirigid material unfortunately suffer from the disadvantage that they are not sufficiently resilient at those parts where resilience is essential to adequately and safely support the fairly considerable Moreover, while cardboard is a fairly inexpensive material and one permitting the manufacture of a large number of such carriers without difficulty, the fact that such carriers are for all practical purposes a fone-time transporting element, since they are not easily collapsed and returned to the store for further use, the display and sale of bottled beverages in such cardboard bottle carriers is In addition a carrier formed of cardboard, Without any metallic parts, is not too strong, and not too well adapted to support safely a relatively heavy load as typified by six or more filled bottles.

I have now provided a portable bottle carrier, suitable for use in displaying bottled beverages for sale and for providing a light and convenient element by which the purchaser may safely transport his bottles home, which carrier is formed partly of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or paperboard, and partly of a resilient material such as metal wire. By the use of both rigid or semi-rigid members formed of cardboard or some other stiff paper product, and of a collapsible wire element or elements, in combination, I am able to provide a carrier which is formed with a flat smooth unbroken bottom and central partition, thereby retaining all the advantages of the usual all-cardboard bottle carrier, but one in which the bottle inclosing members are formed of wire, the carrier being so constituted that wire is utilized to support the considerable weight of the bottles being carried. In this way there is provided a carrier which is readily collapsed to small space when it is no longer in use, but which is also readily assembled or put together merely by fitting the wire ele ments to the semi-rigid cardboard panel elements in a very simple manner. Moreover, the

weight of the heavy filled bottles is supported by the members or elements which are best adapted for supporting them, and which have the necessary strength to support a considerable weight, 1. e. the metallic wire bottle inclosing member.

I have, moreover, provided a bottle carrier of an improved type wherein the bottle inclosing or rack element'of my carrier, formed of metallic wire rods, is provided at oppositely disposed portions thereof with seating portions which are adapted to seat in slots formed in the central partition, these seating portions being urged by the spring-like action of the metallic wire rack itself into the slots. In this way the wire rack is resiliently engaged with the central partition of the carrier, and is readily assembled and disassembled therefrom, the inherent resiliency of the metallic, wire rack itself holding the two elements in contact and the carrier in assembled position.

My improved bottle carrier comprises three elements, a base of rigid or semi-rigid material, a wire rack or bottle inclosing element, and a central partition of rigid or semi-rigid material When these three elements are assembled in place, a simple and convenient, yet strong, bottle carrier is provided, which is easily disassembled by springing apart the resiliently-held wire rack element from the central partition. In some instance it is advisable to form the second element, i. e. the wire rack, so that it is composed of two separate portions as in one of the modifications of my invention subsequently described, but in all cases, as noted, my improved bottle carrier comprises the three essential elements of base, wire rack, and central partition, all held together by the resiliency of the wire rack at those portions thereof which are seated in slots in the central partition.

Certain preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the annexed drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of bottle carrier constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig.2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of the central partition in elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the central partition;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wire rack member, including the wire rod side stirrups, this rack being adapted to cooperate with central partition and base member of my improved bottle carrier;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the slotted base;

Fig '7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of my bottle carrier, the wire rack in this modification being adapted to fold flat so that it lies substantially in one plane when the carrier is collapsed and disassembled;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the central par-- three component elements comprising the carrier 7 are laid flat or otherwise stacked;

Fig. 11 is a view of the foldable wire rack of Fig. 9, this element being shown in this view, however, when folded fiat so that its parts lie substantially in a single plane;

Fig. 12 is a view of the base of the bottle carrier;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on th line 13-43 of Fig. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another modified form of my bottle carrier, a portion of the wire rack being cutaway to show two of the apertures in the base member;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the central par-,

tition;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the base member;

Fig 1'7 is a perspective view of one of the two elements comprising the bottle inclosing member or wire rack, which cooperates with the central partition and base member; and

Fig. 18 i a partial view in cross-section taken along the line l8l8 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the'arrows.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, and with particular reference to the modification of my bottle carrier shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the central partition 2| is provided with aperture 22, formed as a slot with curved side walls designed to permit entry of the fingers of the person carrying the filled bottle carrier, the edges being curved so as to distribute the weight of the carrier and the bottle carried thereon evenly and easily over the surface of the fingers.

The central partition 2| is further provided with the tongue 23, so formed and adapted so that it fits into a slot in the base member of the carrier, as presently to be described. Two similar inwardly directed double-edged notches, 2:3 and 25, are formed in the edges of the central partition somewhat below the center thereof to receive the wire rod comprising the rack at portions thereof which fit into the notches and are resiliently retained therein.

The base member 26, formed of cardboard or some other semi-rigid material, is provided with slot 21 to receive the tongue 23 of central par,- tition 2B, and with two notches 28, 29 and 30, 3| on each of the two opposite side edges thereof that are parallel in direction to the direction in which the slot 21 extends. These notches are adapted to receive the upright rods of the stirrup portions of the wire rack as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown, the wire rack is formed with the rectangular horizontal portion 32, which is formed at each end thereof, with the inwardly.

extending doubly bent reverse folds 33 and 34, which between them provide, at each end of the rectangular wire portion 32, the seating portions 35, 35 which are adapted to seatin the notches 24 and 25 in the vertical upright edges of the central partition 2|. The doubly bent portions 33 and 34 form projections which prevent lateral movement of central partition 2|. Since the wire rod of which the rack is formed is resilient or springy, and since each end of the portion 32 formed with the seating portion 35 can be sprung outwardly and in this position will tend to spring inwardly in an attempt to return to its original position, it is evident that the seating portions 35 will be securely held by spring action when they are seated in the notches 24, 25 of the central partition. This is accomplished when the three elements comprising the carrier, the partition, base and wire rack; are assembled with the seating portions 35, 35 retained in the notches of the central partition by spring action.

Depending from the horizontal rectangular portion 32 are the two side stirrups 3B and 31, which are of U-shaped bent wire, the ends being looped over to encircle the horizontal portion 32 as indicated at 38. These spaced stirrups serve to hold the base 26 to the central partition 2|.

,The upright or vertical portions of the stirrups 35, 31 fit into the notches 28, 29, 33, 3| in the base, and the horizontal portions thereof extend below the base, which rests thereon and in contact with the surface of the wire loops, as shown in Fig. 2. In this way the weight of the base 26, and of the bottles resting thereon, is supported by the stirrups 36, 37, the stress in these stirrup members being communicated, by means of the horizontal rectangular portion 32 of the wire rack to the central partition 2|. The assembled carrier and its load is thus easily carried when the fingers of the person carrying it are thrust into the slotted hole 32.

It is apparent that my new portable bottle carrier comprises essentially three elements: the base 26; the wire rack 32 with its side stirrups 36 and 31; and the central partition 2|. It is easily assembled or disassembled at will, and when in the disassembled state it is readily stored in but little space. When assembled, however, because of the spring action with which the seating portions 35 are held in the notches 24, 25 of the central partition, the whole constitutes a firm and secure carrier, fully capable of carrying the weight of and transporting a number of filled bottles of a beverage.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive, the three component parts are similar to or identical with the parts comprising the carrier shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inelusive, with the exceptions noted below. In Figs. '7 to 13, the reference numerals are the same as those used in the earlier figures where they denote the same parts, except that those used in conjunction with Figs. 7 to 13 are primed, where as those employed in Figs. 1 to 6 are not.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. '7 to 13, the base 26' is identical With that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof need not be repeated. The central partition 2| is also identical with partition 2|, except that the tongue 23' is formed with the two notches 39', Ail, through which the lower horizontal portions (designated 4|) of the side stirrups 3t, 31, pass when the bottle carrier is assembled and base 26 rests upon and is supported by these horizontal portions.

The wire rack 32 is generally identical with right angle bent reverse'folds 33' and 34', and the seating portions 35' adapted to seat in the notches 24', 25' of the central partition 2| and be retained therein by spring action. However, the loops 38' at the ends of the side stirrups 36', 37', where the wires of the side stirrups are looped around the horizontal rectangular portion 32, are seated in downwardly bent indentations 42 in the rectangular wire portion 32, these indentations being so shaped as to provide a pivot for the looped ends 38'. It is thus possible to swing the side stirrups 36', 37, about the hinge and pivot provided by loops 38' and indentations 42', so that these stirrups lie flat with the rectangular wire portion as shown in Fig. 11. In this way the wire rack, when the carrier is not in use, may be arranged so that all parts thereof lie in substantially one plane and occupy but little space, simply by swinging the side stirrups 36', 31', around indentations 38 as a pivot until these lie flat with the rest of the wire rack. The three fiat component parts constituting the carrier are central partition 2|, wire rack 32', and base 26', and these flat parts may then be stored, one on top of the other, in a minimum of space.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 14 to 18 inclusive, the bottle carrier also comprises essentially three parts; a base, a central partition, and a wire rack functioning to hold the base to the central partition so that the bottles may be supported on the base when the central partition is grasped by a person and carried. However, it differs from the embodiments shown in the other figures of the drawing in that the wire rack, instead of being formed substantially as a single member, is composed of two identical wire rod members arranged symmetrically with reference to the central partition.

-In this embodiment, 2 It represents the central partition, which is in all respects identical with the central partition 2| of the first described embodiment of my invention. It is provided with slotted aperture 220 having curved side walls adapted to permit the entry of the fingers of the person carrying the device. Notches 240, 250, in the central partition are adapted to seat the wire rack which is resiliently retained therein, as in the other embodiments of my invention. Tongue 23% seats in the-slot 270 in the base 260, as in the first two embodiments.

' However, base 268 is provided, in addition, with a pair of apertures M on one side of the slot Eli} and closely adjacent thereto, and with a second pair of apertures 45 on the other side of the slot, opposite to the first pair and disposed symmetrically with respect thereto. These apertures are adapted to seat the ends of the wire rods, of the wire rack, as shown in Fig. 18. Notches 46,

45 and 47, ll in the side edges of the base- 260 are adapted to serve as a seat for the wire rods, as also shown in this figure.

The wirerack is formed of two identical bent wire members which are designated generally by the numeral :8. As shown each wire rod is bent to form an upper transverse loop portion 49, the ends of the wire being bent over at a right angle to form the vertical or upstanding portions 50, 5|. The free end portions of the wire rod are again bent at right angles to form the transversely extending bottom horiozntal portions 52, 53, and the terminal ortions or tips 54, 55 are bent upwardly at right angles to the adjacent portions of the wire rack. These short upwardly extending terminal portions 54, 55, are adapted to fit into and seat in the pairs of holes in the base 260, one seating in hole 44 and the other in hole 45, as shown in Fig. 18, to securely lock the wire rack to the base.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 17, the wire comprising the loop portion 39 is bent through a double right angle to give reverse folds 330 and 340, as in the two previously-described embodiments of my invention. Between them, as in the other embodiments, is the seating portion 350, which is resiliently engaged in either of the notches 240, 25!] in the central portion when the carrier is assembled. When the wire rack is in place with the terminal tips 54%, 55 seated in apertures 44, 45 of the base, the horizontal bottom portions 52, 53 of the wire rack extending below and supporting the base 260 and the bottles carried thereby, with the upright or vertical rods 56, 5| seated in the notches 56, st, it is evident that the natural resilience of the wire rack tends to urge the seating portion 350 into the notch 240 (or notch 250) in the central partition 2m. Each half of the wire rack is therefore urged by spring action into contact with the central partition, thus uniting the four elements which constitute the bottle carrier into a strong and unitary device capable of carrying a heavy load on the base when the device is supported and carried by a person gripping the central partition by means of the slotted opening 220.

When disassembling the carrier it is evident that the central partition and the base 260 may be laid flat, one on top of the other. The two bent wire rod elements Ml, which together form the wire rack of the assembled carrier, are each identical, although they are arranged reversely to each other in symmetrical arrangement when the carrier is assembled. They may be used interchangeably, and they may be stacked one upon the other when there are a great many of them, as when a considerable number of bottle carriers of this modified form are to be assembled, as is frequently the case in stores, warehouses, or bot-' tling plants.

Instead of being made of round wire rods, as shown, the wire racks of the three embodiments of my invention may be made of flat wire, or

of strips of thin sheet metal having suflicient rigidity, or of wire of another cross-sectional shape, as desired, without in any way affecting my improved bottle carrier or its mode of operation or assembly. Also, while I have illustrated the device as adapted to support six bottles, three on each side of the central partition, its capacity does not form an essential part of the invention,

as it might be arranged to accommodate a fewer or a greater number of bottles. It may, of course,

also be used for supporting other types of con;

8 tending' substantially vertically upwardly from said base member and engaging said base member along an axis of symmetry thereof, said partition member having a grasping aperture formed therein adjacent to the upper edge portion thereof and two inwardly directed double-edged notches formed in opposite vertical edge portions thereof, said notches being spaced upwardly from said base member; and a retaining member formed of straight resilient wire comprising a portion extending generally circumferentially horizontally parallel to and spaced from said base member, said straight wire being bent to conform to the general configuration of said base member in the horizontal portions thereof and to resiliently engage said notches in said partition member, said retaining member further comprising straight wire portions extending vertically downwardly toward said base member and bent to extend transversely of said base member and perpendicular to said partition member beneath said base member for supporting a load carried b-y said base member. I

2. A carrier according to claim 1 in which said retaining member comprises two substantially identical parts, each part being bent to form a horizontally circumferentially extending portion which constitutes generally one-half of the total horizontally extending portion of said retaining member, and in which said base member has four holes formed therein near the center there of, two of said holes being disposed on each side forming a seating portion therebetween, said doubly bent portions forming projections for preventing lateral movement of said partition member.

4. A carrier according to claim 3 in which said retaining member comprises two substantially identical parts, each part being bent to form a horizontally circumferentially extending portion which constitutes generally one half of the total horizontally extending portion of said retaining member, and in which said base member has four holes formed therein near the center thereof, two of said holes being disposed on each side of said partition member and adjacent thereto, each of said parts having spaced short end portions bent to extend vertically upwardly into a pair of said holes disposed on opposite sides of said partition member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Listman June 6, 1950- 

